Triple M response slammed after furious host storms off air mid-show

Triple M has issued a statement after the host of its weekend NRL coverage stormed out of the broadcast while it was still going to air.

Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley has hit out at Triple M’s response to popular presenter Anthony Maroon storming out of the studio following a heated blow-up with his co-hosts during Sunday’s NRL coverage.

Maroon became increasingly frustrated with rugby league reporter James Hooper over tax evasion jokes before eventually leaving the studio on Sunday. Paul Kent was forced to anchor the show ahead of the Round 8 clash between the Dragons and Tigers.

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Triple M said in a statement on Wednesday: “On Sunday 1 May, during Triple M’s NRL broadcast, the on air team Anthony Maroon, Gordon Tallis, Paul Kent and James Hooper had a disagreement which led to Maroon leaving the broadcast. SCA is managing the issue internally.”

Hadley slammed the response on his 2GB radio show.

“I’m not sure if the bosses at Triple M have heard the audio that we heard (on his show) yesterday,” he said.

“If they think three blokes ganging up on one who repeatedly asked them to stop is a ‘disagreement’, that’s as concerning as the incident itself.

“Perhaps they can manage it ‘internally’ by sitting down with another one of their presenters Gus Worland, who does outstanding work with Gotcha 4 Life focusing on men’s mental health issues.”

The drama started when Hooper joked about Maroon and the Australian Taxation Office, which the radio presenter immediately took umbrage with.

“Hang on a minute, there is some breaking news here, I just got a text message,” Hooper started. “Hello this is the ATO, the Australian Taxation Office, we have an inquiry.”

Maroon responded by mocking Hooper for losing his driver’s licence: “I don’t have a problem with the ATO, I welcome it mate but I am just wondering when are you going to be back on the road Hoops?”

Hooper then said: “Why are you jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof?”

Maroon continued: “I am fed up with it. I have asked you on air, I have asked you off air, I have asked you to stop and now I have told you I am hitting back. If I have got to cop it every week for five years, let’s have it out on air. This is absolute bulls***. We might get a walkout.

Anthony Maroon stormed out of Sunday’s broadcast.

“Let’s keep going boys because when it comes to you three, I live a very boring life. I am blowing up because I am sick to death of it. Now I have known for three years you have not had a licence and I have not said anything on air. I have warned you 15 times, I don’t like this. I have been on air for 32 years, I am a professional. This particular issue I have probably raised on air and off air, I don’t know, 100 times. I have even sent emails to the powers that be … nothing. It never stops.”

Hooper chimed in: “You know the more you ask us to stop it, the funnier it gets.”

Maroon finished: “Mate, I don’t think it is funny, it has already caused me a lot of grief. I am not putting up with it anymore. I don’t like it. I have asked many, many times for it to stop. I am saying here and now, I am not even joking … I tell you what, I will leave you guys with it, OK.”

Hadley had earlier blasted Triple M management over the incident on Tuesday, describing the situation as “distressing” and “embarrassing”.

“I have some concerns about Anthony Maroon because he stormed off-air and hasn’t been in contact with anyone since,” Hadley said on 2GB.

“The other people that had a role in this need to have an examination of themselves as well.

“(Maroon) says in the audio he has been to management and they have done nothing.

“Knowing what I know of Southern Cross management I am not at all surprised, they are as weak as water. There is no leadership there and there should be.

“What happened on Sunday should not have happened.”